Surgical robotics systems and devices having a sterile restart, and methods thereof

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to surgical robotic systems having a master console and slave manipulators, with components and features for enabling a restart without comprising the sterility of the surgical robotic system. In some embodiments, an apparatus can include a restart of a surgical robotic system that is configured to be activated by a sterile user from within a sterile field without compromising the sterile field, and a controller operatively coupled to the restart that is configured to detect that the restart has been activated and, in response to detecting that the restart has been activated, restart the surgical robotic system.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus, comprising:
 a restart of a surgical robotic system that is configured to be activated by a sterile user from within a sterile field without compromising the sterile field; and 
 a controller operatively coupled to the restart, the controller being configured to:
 detect that the restart has been activated; 
 in response to detecting that the restart has been activated, determine whether an instrument is coupled to a slave manipulator of the surgical robotic system; and 
 in response to determining that the instrument is coupled to the slave manipulator, enable telemanipulation of the instrument in a predefined set of degrees-of-freedom (DOFs) that allows the instrument to engage further with or disengage from tissue or other components within a body of a patient without compromising the sterile field. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the restart includes one or more physical or virtual buttons, switches, or sliders. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to detect that the restart has been activated when the one or more physical or virtual buttons, switches, or sliders have been activated for a predefined period of time. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to provide haptic, audible, or visual feedback while or after the one or more physical or virtual buttons, switches, or sliders have been activated. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the restart includes a plurality of buttons, switches, or sliders. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to detect that the restart has been activated when the plurality of buttons, switches, or sliders has been activated according to a predefined sequence. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the instrument includes a set of jaws, and the predefined set of DOFs that allows the instrument to be engaged further with or disengaged from the tissue or other components is one or more DOFs that allow the set of jaws to open or close. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the instrument includes a hook, scalpel, spatula, needle holder, dissector, scissors, or grasper, and the predefined set of DOFs that allows the instrument to be engaged further with or disengaged from the tissue or other components is a DOF associated with a rotational motion of the hook, scalpel, spatula, needle holder, dissector, scissors, or grasper. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the restart is located on a master console of the surgical robotic system. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the restart is located on the slave manipulator. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to, after the instrument has been disengaged from the tissue or other components, restart the robotic system. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to return the slave manipulator to a home position after restarting the robotic system. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 detect, during a surgical procedure, an abnormal event; and 
 in response to detecting the abnormal event, deactivate the slave manipulator from movement. 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 deactivate, in response to detecting an abnormal event, teleoperation of the slave manipulator and the instrument coupled to the slave manipulator by a user-operated device at a master console of the surgical robotic system. 
 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the abnormal event includes at least one of: unexpected movement of at least one of the slave manipulator or the instrument, an input anomaly associated with the master console, a collision between (1) at least one of the slave manipulator or the instrument and (2) an external object, or a failure of a sensor, actuator, or controller of the surgical robotic system. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a master console disposed separately from the slave manipulator, wherein the master console includes a first plurality of links that are operatively coupled to a second plurality of links of the slave manipulator such that movements of the first plurality of links cause corresponding movements of the second plurality of links,
 wherein the restart is located on the master console proximate to the first plurality of links. 
 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a sterile handle configured to be removably coupled to the master console,
 wherein the sterile handle, when coupled to the master console, is configured to control telemanipulation of the instrument in the predefined set of degrees-of-freedom. 
 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a sterile barrier configured to isolate the master console from the sterile field, the restart being located on the master console behind the sterile barrier. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the slave manipulator is a first slave manipulator, and the instrument is a first instrument, the controller further configured to:
 in response to detecting that the restart has been activated, determine whether a second instrument is coupled to a second slave manipulator of the surgical robotic system; and 
 in response to determining that the second instrument is coupled to the second slave manipulator, enabling telemanipulation of the second instrument in a predefined set of DOFs after enable telemanipulation of the first instrument. 
 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to enable telemanipulation of the instrument in a predefined set of DOFs by enabling telemanipulation of the instrument to open before enabling telemanipulation of the instrument in any other DOFs.